Vietnamese speech ignites council meeting

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GARDEN GROVE The City Council took up a routine post-election duty this week: the appointment to a vacant council seat. But it turned into anything but routine.

Councilwoman Dina Nguyen chose to address constituents in Vietnamese for nearly five minutes, and she only translated her speech after a community leader demanded a translation.

Meanwhile, her speech led to a demand from another community leader for a chance to defend himself; he was shut down by the new mayor.

At stake was the appointment to a seat vacated by Bruce Broadwater, who was elected mayor. Nine people applied for the post, including Kris Beard, an appointed councilman since 2011 who came in fourth place in the last election.

Some candidates spoke on their own behalf. Resident Robin Marcario noted she was the next-highest vote-getter in 2008 and a Spanish speaker in a city with a high percentage of Latinos. John O'Neill and James Ybarra also asked for the appointment, as did Phat Bui, the Planning Commission chairman who came in third in a race for two open seats.

The City Council on Tuesday appointed Beard. The action was criticized by residents who had encouraged the council to follow a 1990 local advisory measure that vacant seats should go to the next-highest vote-getter.

Nguyen made a brief statement in English. She thanked everyone for applying, said it was “a very tough decision” and added: “We have many views in this city – not everyone will have the same view.” Then she read a prepared statement in Vietnamese to the Vietnamese-language speakers in the audience and on TV.

Toby Rubin, president of the Garden Grove Neighborhood Association, stood up in the crowded chamber. “We are in America. Who's going to translate what you just said?” Rubin asked.

Nguyen then offered to translate her statement. She said she would be recommending someone for the vacant seat who had time for city business and “not have to tend to businesses or jobs that are far away from the city.” She also said she would recommend someone who did not promote casinos in Garden Grove or be welcoming of any leaders from communist Vietnam. She elaborated on her points.

Immediately after the translation, Bui stood and asked to be heard. He said Nguyen was “planting a smear campaign against my character.”

Mayor Broadwater turned him down. “I cannot believe this is happening. I want you to sit down,” Broadwater told Bui. “She's entitled to her opinion.”

New Councilman Chris Phan nominated Bui for the position. His colleagues remained silent and his motion died. Nguyen then endorsed Beard, who was appointed to the council unanimously.

Residents began to complain about Nguyen's actions even before the meeting had concluded.

Bui said it was clear that Nguyen was speaking about him, even though she never named him. He said he does not support casinos or welcoming communist leaders from Vietnam. Nguyen would not elaborate after the meeting on her comments other than to say she did not name any particular candidate.

On Wednesday, resident Tony Flores wrote her a letter demanding an apology to the community: “The diatribe that you delivered in the Vietnamese language that was obviously aimed at one person and designed to pander to one particular segment of our society was disrespectful, inconsiderate and rude.

“I expect the members of my city council to speak to all of us citizens in a language that we can all understand,” Flores wrote.

Resident Maureen Blackmun, another council watcher, also wrote Nguyen a letter Wednesday.

“You never mentioned that ‘someone' by name,” Blackmun wrote. “But everyone knew who you were speaking about. It was obvious, the speech was never intended to be shared with the English speaking residents in attendance or watching TV or you would have translated verbatim. And as my city council member, I resent that.”

Meanwhile, Beard said he was honored to be returning to the council. “I'm probably the most experienced of the candidates,” he said after the meeting.

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